Page:The History of the Standard Oil Company Vol 2.djvu/181

 fearing that, even if it were in the main correct, there might be some loophole by which the Standard Oil Company could escape. Now, in reading the report of the House investigations, Mr. Watson had been particularly impressed with the clearness and directness of the questions put by one of the members of the investigating committee, Mr. Buchanan, of New Jersey. He accordingly went to Washington, inquired from a friend if Mr. Buchanan could be relied upon, and, receiving the assurance of his high character, sought an interview with him. "Was the Standard trust agreement as published in the committee's report bona fide?" was the inquiry. "Yes," said Mr. Buchanan. "But why do you ask?" "Because if it is," replied Mr. Watson, "I believe the Standard Oil Company of Ohio has violated the laws of the state, and on my return to Columbus I shall file an action in quo warranto against it in the Supreme Court of the state."

"You would not dare do that, would you?" exclaimed Mr. Buchanan.

"I was young then," Mr. Watson told the writer in describing this interview, "and I supposed it was expected of a public officer to perform his duty. So I explained to Mr. Buchanan that there was a statute in Ohio which required an attorney-general to bring suit against any corporation which he had reason to believe was violating the laws of the state; that I had no personal feeling against the Standard Oil Company, but I meant to enforce the law against it as I would against any other company which I believed to be violating the law."

"I admire your courage," said Mr. Buchanan, "but I would not do it."

On May 8, 1890, Mr. Watson filed his petition in the Supreme Court of Ohio. The petition averred that, in viola-